Couch-casket.



N0. 642,8l7. Patented Feb. 6, I900.

. J. N. DEAN.

COUCH CASKET.

(Application filed Nov. 19, 1898.)

(No Model.)

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" I ED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN NEWTON DEAN, OF WHEELING, VEST VIRGINIA.

COUCH-CASKET.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 642,817, dated February 6, 1900.

Application filed November 19, 1898. Serial No. 696,934. (No model.)

T0 00% whom zit may concern/.

Be it known thatI, JOHN NEWTON DEAN, a citizen of the United States of America, and a resident of Wheeling, county of Ohio, and State of West Virginia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Couch-Oaskets, of which the following is a specification.

My'invention relates to improvements in couch-caskets, and more particularly to that class of caskets or burial-cases provided with hinged sides and ends which fold downward so as to form a sofa, lounge, ,or couch; and it consists in certain novel constructions, combinations, and arrangements of parts, as will be hereinafter described, and pointed out in the claims.

The primary object of my invention is to provide a burial case or casket constructed in such a manner that a sofa or conch may be formed therefrom upon which a corpse may rest entirely open to View while lying in the house previous to being conveyed to the grave.

I am aware that other burial cases or caskets having hinged sides and ends which may be dropped to form a couch have been patented; but these form a couch having the same dimensions as the bottom of the casket, which is usually very narrow, the body of the corpse occupying almost the entire surface thereof.

My invention has for its object to so construct a burial case or casket that its sides and ends may be conveniently folded down to form a couch, the width of which will be considerably greater than that of the bottom of the casket, thus obviating the objection re-' ferred to in regard to those already patented.

In order that my invention may be fully understood, reference is had to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 represents a perspective view of my burial case or casket, showing it opened, forming a couch. Fig. 2 represents a perspective view of the same, showing it closed. Fig. 3 represents a transverse sectional view of the same when open, taken on the line 3 3, Fig. 1, looking toward the foot of the casket. Fig. 4 represents a transverse sectional view of the same when closed, taken on the line 44:, gig. 2, looking in the same direction as in A in the drawings represents the bottom or base-board of the casket, upon which rest two ribs B, extending longitudinally the entire length of the casket, each forming with its upper surface a compound curve, the curve at the head of the casket being much more pronounced than that at the foot, so as to form, when covered with upholstery, a head-rest or pillow. Upon the bottom orbase-board A, I may place a suitable mattress which fills up the intervening space I between the longitudinal ribs B and B. It will be seen from the drawings that I do not place these longitudinal ribs B on the lateral edges of the bottom or base-board, but upon the base-board at a considerable distance from said edges. To the lateral edges of the bottom or base-board at E, I hinge a molding G, which is secured to the side D of the casket at its base and on the outside thereof. To the inside of the base of each side D at F, I hinge a longitudinal laterally movable rib G, similar in construction to the ribs B and B.

When the casket is to be opened, the sides D and D are folded downward. This raises the movable ribs G and G from their position on the bottom or base-board of the casket, as shown in Fig. 4, and they take the upright position shown in Fig. 3. These ribs G and G, when the sides D and D are thus folded down, are held in an upright position and prevented from falling over by means of a strong cloth H, with which the whole of the inside of the casket is covered or lined. As is obvious, the space which intervenes between the rib B and the rib G when the casket is opened out can have no cushion or mattress placed therein, as this space is occupied by the rib G and the side D when the same is closed. It becomes therefore necessary to cover the whole, and I so cover it with a strong cloth tightly drawn, so as to prevent excessive sagging between the ribs B and G. When the casket is to be closed, it is apparent that the sides D need but to be raised to an upright position, when the movable ribs G will fold against the ribs B", as is plainly shown in Fig. 4.

It is apparent that the molding 0 need not be used; but the sides D may be hinged directl y to the base-board or bottom A. How ever, in order to secure a greater Width for the couch I prefer to use the molding.

The ends of the casket are hinged directly to the ends of the bottom or base-board A.

As a cover for my casket any form of cover or lid which will secure the ends and sides of the casket in an upright position'may be used.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that my invention is extremely simple and free from complication in its construction and a casket is formed which may be conveniently opened out, so as to form a couch having a considerably greater width than that of the base-board or bottom of the casket.

Although I have described more or less precise forms and details of construction, it is understood that changes in form and the minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or scope and without sacrificing any of the ad vantages of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A burial case or casket having secured at the base of each side and on the outer side thereof a molding which is hinged to the bot tom or base-board of the casket, and having each side, at its base and on the inner side thereof, hinged to a longitudinal movable rib; and two longitudinal stationary ribs secured to the bottom or base-board, substantially as and for the purposes set forth and described.

2. In a burial-casket of the class described, the base provided with two longitudinal stationary ribs secured thereon, the upper surface of each forming a compound curve; the

movable longitudinal ribs hinged to the inner bases of the sides; and the movable sides and ends, substantially as and for the purposes set forth and described.

3. A burial case or casket, substantially as described, com prising a Wide base-board supporting two stationary longitudinal ribs each of which forms with its upper surface a compound curve, the curve at the head of the casket being much more pronounced than that at the foot; the longitudinal movable ribs each hinged at its base to the inner base of the side; and the sides each secured at their outer base to a molding which is hinged to the lateral edge of the base-board, substantially as and for the purposes set forth and described.

4. The combination of a base-board, stationary longitudinal ribs secured thereon, hinged ends and sides, movable longitudinal ribs, and a cover connected and arranged to form an improved burial case or casket, sub stantially as shown and described.

5. In a burial case or casket, substantially as described, the combination of a wide baseboard having longitudinal stationary ribs secured thereon, movably-attached sides and ends, and movable longitudinal ribs movably attached to the sides and arranged so as to project upward when the casket is unfolded, forming an extension for a couch, and so as to fold against said side when the casket is folded, substantially as and for the purposes set forth and described.

6. A couch-casket, consisting of the bottom or base-board, hinged sides and ends connected with said base-board, and movable longitudinal ribs connected with the sides, substantially as and for the purpose set forth and 1 described.

JOHN NEWTON DEAN.

W'itnesses:

ELBERT MITCHELL, CHAS. R. SNIDER. 

